While yesterday was the "drop-dead date" for the 4-on-4 barnstorming league to confirm a tour of Western Canada, according to earlier comments by OSHL president Randy Gumbley, at least two employees complained to the Toronto Sun that expense money for tours of Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada were not reimbursed.

"I'm out more than $2,000, but I'm at the low end," said one former OSHL assistant who asked she not be identified. "I'd say the average is $3,000 or more. I worked 17 hours a day. There was no salary involved, but I haven't seen a cent of the expense money. There are players who are out a lot more."

Gumbley, who did not return a call yesterday, said last week that he had reached "an appropriate" financial settlement with the 20 to 40 players who came in from as far as California to participate. The initial plan was to play for expense money and a slice of the profits, with some monies going to charity.

But crowds were low and Gumbley, owner/coach of the Provincial Jr. A Streetsville Derbys, said last week he had already lost a significant amount of personal income.

OSHL commissioner and former National Hockey League defenceman Grant Ledyard said yesterday he's not surprised a planned tour of Western Canada next month never got going, given the lower than anticipated attendance elsewhere. He said he's aware that players and staff were not paid, but has not talked directly to Gumbley about that in the past few days.

"The way it has been explained to me, to take care of all these guys and the cost of their flights, he had cancelled the (injury) insurance," Ledyard said. "Insurance was our biggest expense. He talked about (repaying people) along those lines."